Rafael Camara is currently the leading candidate to take Esteban Ocon’s place at Haas in Formula 1 for the upcoming season. Ocon is expected to depart from Haas once his contract ends after this year’s F1 campaign.
The 30-year-old French driver was narrowly outperformed by his rookie teammate Ollie Bearman last year, but this season has been tough, and the gap in performance between them has significantly increased. Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, Ocon described himself as a “free agent” and confirmed that he is in discussions with other F1 teams regarding possible drives for 2027.
Ocon’s position at Haas has been uncertain for some time, and now the frontrunner to succeed him has become clear. So, who exactly is Rafael Camara?
Camara is a 21-year-old Brazilian currently placed second in the Formula 2 championship during his debut season. He has quickly ascended through the ranks, clinching the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, then capturing the Formula 3 title on his first try in 2025.
This year in his rookie F2 season, Camara has won two feature races and trails the championship leader, Red Bull-supported Nikola Tsolov, by only seven points with three rounds remaining. If he manages to secure the F2 championship this year, Camara would join an exclusive group of just six drivers who have won the F3 (or GP3) and F2 (or GP2) championships consecutively. Notable drivers in this club include Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto, and McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli.
Moreover, Camara is part of Ferrari’s young driver academy. Given Ferrari’s strong technical partnership with Haas, if Camara does become Bearman’s teammate next year, Haas will field two Ferrari juniors on its grid. Late last month, Camara participated in a private test session for Haas at Portimao alongside Fornaroli, Ryo Hirakawa, and Jack Doohan—other prospects Haas is considering for 2027.
Although Haas isn’t rushing to finalize its driver lineup for next season, Camara is believed to be the top choice to replace Ocon, having earned praise from both Ferrari and Haas.
Fan Take:
This potential driver swap is exciting because it showcases the continued rise of young talent in Formula 1, keeping the sport fresh and competitive. Bringing in someone like Rafael Camara could mark the beginning of a new era at Haas and further deepen Ferrari’s influence within the grid.
Source: www.crash.net
